Gossip

“Did you see the way Babs was preening?” said Dizzy as she landed next to Cheeky her magpie friend.

Cheeky laughed. “She looked funny with her wing stretched out and her beak fluffing every feather into place.”

“I wonder who she’s getting all dolled up for.”

“I over heard her telling Ebony that she expecting a visitor.”

“Do you think Fritters will finally give her the time of day? She has had an eye on him for years.”

Cheeky stretched her neck hoping for a better view of Babs. “Do you think the preening will help?”

Cackling as only magpies could do, they flew off in different directions each intent on spreading what they gossip.

Cheeky landed next to Kissy. “Kissy, guess who’s coming to call on Babs?”

“Who, her mom?”

“No. Fritters is on the way and he’s going to ask her to marry him.”

“Really? I thought her mom was coming for a while.”

Shaking her head she swooped off to spread her story.

Meanwhile, Dizzy scooted up to Kix and whispered, “Fritters is on his way to ask Babs to marry him and raise a crop of chicks.”

“I thought that was over and he was interested in Krackle. He’s been spending time with her.”

Dizzy flew to another magpie and the rumor spread.

Ebony got wind of it and flitted over to Babs. “Babs, I thought your mom was coming. But I just heard you're expecting Fritters and he was going to pop the question.”

Babs jerked her head toward Ebony. “What? What are you talking about?”

“Everyone is buzzing about the upcoming engagement. I thought you would have told me first.”

“Ebony, you know it is over with me and Fritters. My mom is coming like I told you. Who started this talk?”

Ebony shook her head. “It was probably Dizzy and Cheeky. They gossip all the time and they spread it like wild fire. I’m sorry, I should have figured you would’ve told me first.”

“I wish they wouldn’t do that. Remember when they said Kix’s nest blew out of the tree and she lost her eggs?”

“Right. She only lost some twigs and fluff in that huge storm. Her nest stood up better than either of theirs did. Why do you think they spread such things?”

Babs smiled. “One good thing that came out of that story, all the magpies gathered to help her rebuild, thinking she lost all, and she was shown how much we love her.”

“That’s true.”

“Ebony, thank you for telling me so I can try to put the fires out. Mom should be here soon, and that should help. Oh no, I just thought, what happens if Fritters hears and he thinks I started it?”

“He won’t think you started it but if you would like, I’ll go over and warn him.”

“I would appreciate that. If I flew over there, and they saw me, the rumors would sure blaze!”

“Oh my!” said Ebony as she sped over to Fritters.

Ebony landed on a branch right over Fritters nest. “Fritters, I have something important to tell you.”

Ebony explained what happened. A short distance away, Cheeky and Dizzy sat whispering. They witnessed Ebony’s frenzy to get to Fritter’s nest.

Soon, the gossip was that Ebony had taken her best friend’s boyfriend.

Later when that didn’t seem to happen, those two magpies spread the word that Fritters had rejected Ebony as well. The story was that Ebony and Babs would never get married.

When word got to Babs and Ebony it hurt their feelings. They seemed to be the object of terrible gossip.

Then one day, a huge black bird stalked Dizzy. Some birds will attack other smaller birds. Dizzy was frightened and flew to the closest nest for protection. That nest belonged to Babs.

Babs was surprised by the abrupt interruption. “What’s wrong? Dizzy, what happened?”

“Look, that huge ugly bird has been harassing me! I think he wants to eat me!” Save me!”

Babs peered over the edge of her nest. The black bird swooped at her, circled and swooped again.

“How long has he been after you? What did you do to cause this commotion?”

“I. I guess he heard something I said.”

“What did you say?”

“I repeated what Cheeky said. She said he attacked birds for no reason and hurt them breaking their wings.”

“Oh Dizzy, you have got to stop this gossip. He is probably trying to teach you a lesson. What’s his name? I’ll go talk to him.”

“Kukla.”

Babs shot out of her nest before the next on-slaught. “Kukla, please stop. I want to talk to you. My friend didn’t mean the things she said.”

“Your friend? I don’t like any of her friends. If you don’t want to get hurt, you better fly away. I’m only interested in her but if you get in my way…”

“Please stop. No magpie believes what she says.”

“I warned you!”

He swooped at her knocking her off balance. She righted herself. He was angry and decided to take it out on her. He came at here again. She stood her ground against this large fierce bird.

They fought, swooping and diving at each other until he stopped. “Why are you protecting that worthless bird? Why not knock her out of that nest and I can take care of her?”

“I don’t think she should be injured. She says mean and hurtful things but I can’t stand by and let her be attacked.”

“We think the same thing.” said Ebony. She, Kix, Krackle, and Fritters flew into the scene.

The black bird looked around at the other birds. “I’ll leave. Keep that bird from spreading terrible stories about us.” He shot up in the air and disappeared into the clouds.

The five birds flew up to Bab’s nest to talk with Dizzy. They explained how her gossip had gotten her into this trouble and they wouldn’t put up with her talking about them anymore.

Dizzy was still shaking. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have repeated what Cheeky told me.”

Babs said, “You’ve repeated and also started gossip. It has hurt all of us. We’ve let you get away with it. But we won’t anymore.”

Children, do you know anyone who repeats things about people? That’s called gossip. It’s wrong to make up things about people and wrong to repeat what you hear. If you hear a story about someone you need to do tell the person telling the story, “I don’t want to hear anything bad about my friend. Please don’t talk about them.”

Gossip can be harmful to the one being talked about. It can turn into harm for the one who gossips. A gossip may start with small things to say but can end up saying terrible things about people all the time. People don’t trust gossips and don’t want them as close friends. If you share one thing it could lead you to talking bad about people all the time. Words can hurt.

Memorize one or more: Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.

Proverbs 26:20 Where there is no wood the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.

Verses in NKJV unless otherwise stated